Music-leaf turner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1. W. E. SWETT'.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER. No. 363,489. Patented May 24, 1.8.87;

(No modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. SWETT;

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

Patented May 24, 1 887.

. springs a).

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

\VILLIAM E. SWETT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,489. dated May 24, 1887;

Application filed Septpmber22, 1986. Serial No. 214,277.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, WIL IAM E. Swnrcr, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Music-Leaf Turners; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My inventionrelates to the class of musicleaf turners; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of devices, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective music-leafturner.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of my music leaf turner. Fig. 2 is a cross section, showing the clamping-strips and thumb'pieces of rack A. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the bar B as applied to the rack. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of same.

A is the music-rack of the piano or other musical instrument. This is centrally slotted, and has mounted in the slot a shaft, a, on which are pivoted opposing clamp-strips a, the front edges of which remain normally closed together under the influence of the Upon the lower end of the shaft are pivotedthumb-pieces a the inner ends of which are provided with pins a, which engage the back edges of the clamp-strips, so that by the movement together of the thumbpieces the clamp strips are forced against their springs, so that their outer edges are separated for the reception of the back of the music.- Upon releasing the thumb-pieces the clampstrips are forced together again, whereby the music is securely held.

B is a small box or casing secured to the top of the rack. From one end of this box extends downwardly a small pintle, 12, upon which the ends of the leaf-turning arms 0 are pivoted. Springs c serve to hold the arms over to one side, and when said arms are turned back to the opposite side the springs are brought under tension.

(No model.)

the sheets of the music may them.

The arms are all held back against the tension of their springs by means of the catch D, pivoted within the box or casing B, and having its end projecting down through the slot in the bottom thereof. This catch is held down to its engagement by aspring, (1. Within the box or casingis also pivoted a retaining pawl or catch, E, the point of which is adapted to project downwardly through the slot in the bottom of the box, and just back of the point of the main catch. This retainingcatch is held up out of engagement by means of a spring, 6.

Pivoted at f in the box or casing is a triplever, F, which lies just above the two catches and presses upon the main catch at a point behind its pivotal center, so that by the downward movement of the lever the main catch is raised, while the retaining-catch is depressed. The free end of the trip-lever is broadened or widened out, as shown atf. The box is provided with a sliding cover, I), through which projects the neck 9 of the expanding bulb G, which lies within the box and directly upon the broadened or widened portion of the triplever F. p x I H is a box or casing located in suitable position, (here shown as upon the floor,) and within reach of the operators foot,whereby he may conveniently reach the treadle h, pivoted in said box. Within the box is an air-bulb, I, secured between the fixed cross-piece h in said box and the inner end of the treadle h, so that when the outer end of said treadle is depressed the inner end, bearing upwardly against the air-bulb, compresses it.

A flexible or other tube, J, connects the air-bulb with the neck of the expanding bulb G in the box B upon the top of the rack.

The operation of my turner is as follows: The music is first placed upon the rack and is held in position by the clamps a. It is then opened out, and the last sheet is held to the rack by means of a small spring-arm, a", as shown. Witheach leaf of the music one of the clamps c of the arm 0 is engaged, said arms being. turned over to the right against the tension of their springs, and all are held in position by means'of the main catch D. When pass between the first leaf is to be turned, the operator presses down the treadle 72., whereby the air is forced from the air-bulb I through the tube J into the expanding bulb G within the box B. The expansion of this bulb depresses the triplever F within the box, so that the main catch D is elevated to release the arms, and at the same time the retaining-catch E is depressed to engage and hold all the arms but the first, which,being free, makes a half turn to the left, carrying the sheet of music with it. The pressure on the treadle being instantly relieved, the parts resume their initial position, ready for a repetition of the operation. I do not confine myself to the exact location of the several parts, for the treadle may be incorporated in the frame of the instrument itself, and may be either a treadle, a lever, or a key, and the air-conducting tube may be placed in the most convenient position and out of sight.

The whole device is rapid in its operation and accurate. It can be applied to any instrument and is not in the way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a music-leaf turner, the combination of pivoted arms engaging the leaves of the music, springs for swinging said arms, the

spring-actuated catch D for holding the arms against the tension of their springs, the triplever F for disengaging the catch from the arms, the box or casing in which said trip-lever is mounted, and a pneumatic engine comprising the bulbs G and I, the former connecting with the box and actuating the trip-lever, substantially as herein described.

2. In a music-leaf turner, the combination of pivoted arms engaging the leaves of the music, springs for swinging said arms, a spring-actnated catch for holding the arms against the tension of their springs, a springactuated retaining-catch for engaging and holding the arms successively, whereby but one is released at a time, a pivoted trip-lever by which said catches are operated, and a pneumatic engine for operating the trip-lever, substantially as herein described.

music, springs for operating said arms, a spring-actuated catch for holding them against the tension of their springs, aspring-actnated retaining-catch for holding said arms successively, whereby but one is released at a time, a pivoted trip-lever by which the catches are operated, an expanding bulb for operating the trip-lever, an air-bulb and an air-connection between it and the expanding bulb, and a treadle, lever, or key for compressing the airbulb, substantially as herein described.

5. In a music-leaf turner, the pivoted arms 0, having clasps for engaging the leaves of the music, and the springs c, for swinging said arms, in combination with the box or casing B, the pivoted spring-actuated catch D in said box for holding the arms against the tension of their springs, the pivoted spring-aetuated catch E in said box adjacent to the catch D, for retaining all but one of said arms, and the pivoted trip-lever F, for operating the catches, substantially as herein described.

6. In a music-leaf turner, the box or casing R and the pivoted arms 0, having clasps for engaging the leaves of the music and springs by which said arms are operated, in eombination with the pivoted spring-actuated main catch D, holding the arms against the tension of their springs, the pivoted spring-actuated catch F, for holding said arms successively, whereby but one is released at a time, the pivoted trip-lever F within the box B and bearing upon the catches, the expanding bulb G, confined within the box over the ends of the trip lever, the air-bulb I, the tube J, and the treadle h, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described.

7. In a musielea'f turner, the pneumatic engine for operating the leaf-turning arms, consisting of the box or casing H, the. pivoted treadle h, and the air-bulb I, confined in said box or casing and adapted to be pressed by the movement of the treadle, the expanding bulb G, by the expansion of which the arms are operated, and the air-tube J, connecting the bulbs, substantially as herein described.

8. In a music-leaf turner, the rack A, having a central shaft, to, in combination with the clamp-strips a, pivoted upon said shaft and opposing each other, the springs a, by which they are closed together, and the pivoted thumb-pieces a, having pins (0 for engaging the back edges of the clamp-strips, by which said strips are opened, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

XVILLIAM E. SWET'I.

lVitnesses:

Josnrn R. \VILCOX, O. D. COLE.

IIO 

